Common sugar substitute could reduce the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

A common artificial sweetener could make cancer treatments less effective, revealed a new study.

Sucralose, a sweetener found in many food sodas, low -calorie snacks and powdered sugar substitutes, could interfere with immunotherapy in cancer patients, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh and the UPMC Hillman Cancer.

The study included 132 patients with melanoma (a fatal shape of skin cancer) and cell lung cancer.

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All patients took anti-PD1 (a type of immunotherapy), either alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

They all filled food questionnaires which indicate the volume of artificial sweeteners they have consumed.

Sucralose consumption could interfere with immunotherapy in cancer patients. (istock)

Researchers have found that patients who consumed high levels of success had a “worse” response “to immunotherapy and a” poorer survival “than those who consumed small quantities, according to a press release.

“We have found that succrralosis hampered the effectiveness of immunotherapy through a range of types of cancer, stages and treatment methods,” said Diwakar Davar, an associate professor of medical medical and a medical and hematologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, in the press release.

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“These observations raise the possibility of conceiving of prebiotics, such as supplementation in targeted nutrients for patients who consume high levels of sucralose.”

The results were published in Cancer Discovery, a review by the American Association for Cancer Research.

“It is easy to say:” Stop drinking soda with the diet “, but when patients are treated for cancer, they are already sufficient.”

On a positive note, the researchers also found that taking supplements to increase the levels of amino acid arginine has thwarted these effects and stimulated the effectiveness of immunotherapy, as shown in a mouse study.

“It is easy to say:” Stop drinking soda “, but when patients are treated for cancer, they are already sufficient, so ask them to considerably modify their diet may not be realistic,” said the main author Abby Overacre, assistant professor in the Immunology Department of Pitt and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, in the press release.

Sucralose is an sweetener found in many food sodas, low -calorie snacks and powdered sugar substitutes. (istock)

“We have to meet patients where they are. This is why it is so exciting that arginine supplementation could be a simple approach to counter the negative effects of success on immunotherapy.”

In the study of the mouse, success modifies the intestinal microbiome in a way that has reduced the levels of arginine. This amino acid is essential for the function of T cells, which is a key component of immunotherapy drugs.

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“When the arginine levels have been exhausted due to discrepancies driven by success in the microbiome, the T cells could not work properly,” said Overacre. “As a result, immunotherapy was not as effective in mice that have been fed by success.”

“For people with cancer treatment, all advice should come from their health team.”

For the future, researchers plan to launch a clinical trial investigating arginine supplementation in patients with human cancer. They will also explore the potential impact of other sugar substitutes on the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and Gateway for Cancer Research.

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The Calorie Control Council provided the statement below to Fox News Digital.

“For people undergoing cancer treatment, all advice should come from their health care team,” said Carla Saunders, president of the council.

Researchers have found that patients who consumed high levels of success had a “worse” response “to immunotherapy and a” lower survival “than those who consumed small quantities. (istock)

“This study has several limits, based on animal research which cannot be directly applied to humans, and (is) a small observational study in humans using self-deprecated eating data, which is often subject to deficiencies, sub-declaration and bias. Although continuous research is the security of scientific regulations for decades.”

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Fox News Digital has contacted the manufacturers of products containing success requiring comments.